No action by MP over smart meter concerns

19 Dec 2012, 2:12 p.m.

On Friday December 14, 10 concerned members of the public, including myself, had a meeting with MP Geoff Howard at his electoral office in Ballarat to voice concerns to him over the smart meter rollout.

On Friday December 14, 10 concerned members of the public, including myself, had
a meeting with MP Geoff Howard at his electoral office in Ballarat to voice
concerns to him over the smart meter rollout.

Mr Howard finally admitted
that smart meters are not compulsory for the public to accept and that they are
only optional. This information from Mr Howard was not forthcoming while he had
the impression that the group at the meeting thought that smart meters were
compulsory. Not until it was made blatantly clear to him that some of the group
knew the truth that he then admitted it.

Over 30 concerned members of the
public also had a meeting back in July 2010 with Mr Howard, together with the
former Labor Energy Minister Peter Batchelor over the same issues.

I asked Mr Howard at last Friday's meeting what action he has taken since
that meeting nearly two and a half years ago to solve these problems and prevent
the unfolding smart meter disasters, but Mr Howard admitted that he has done
nothing about it, and still does not seem keen to do anything.

Once again, a
person of influence has let the public down. The public are left on their own to
try to protect themselves and their property.